Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
10:12
Extraction of Organochlorine Pesticides from Plastic Pellets and Plastic Type Analysis
Published on: July 1, 2017
11.6K
The relationship between plastic ingestion and trace element concentrations in Arctic seabirds
Ingrid L Pollet1, Sululiit Acmc2, Brendan G Kelly2
1Acadia University, Biology Department, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada.
Marine Pollution Bulletin
|May 24, 2024
Summary
Arctic seabirds ingest plastics and contaminants. This study found plastic ingestion had little effect on trace element levels in seabird livers, suggesting prey tissues are the primary source of contamination.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Marine ecology
- Avian biology
Background:
- Seabirds are exposed to environmental contaminants through both diet and plastic debris.
- Understanding contaminant burdens in seabirds is crucial for assessing ecosystem health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between ingested plastic load and trace element concentrations in Arctic seabirds.
- To determine if plastic ingestion influences the accumulation of essential and non-essential trace elements.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 25 trace elements in liver tissue of four Arctic seabird species.
- Quantification of plastic content in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Application of Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to differentiate species and plastic-ingesting individuals.
Main Results:
- Species-specific differences in trace element concentrations were significant (LDA).
- Northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes showed distinct elemental profiles.
- No clear separation in element concentrations was observed between individuals with and without ingested plastics.
Conclusions:
- Ingested plastic particles appear to have a minimal impact on the overall trace element burden in these Arctic seabird species.
- Trace element concentrations are primarily influenced by factors other than plastic ingestion, likely related to prey.
- Dietary pathways remain the dominant route for trace element accumulation in Arctic seabirds.
